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Since July 2009, LivingSocial customers have traveled all over town to redeem their daily deals. But now the online discounter is opening its own venue at 918 F St. NW, where merchants can gather in one space to host classes, temporary restaurants and other events.

The 28,000-square-foot venue consists of six floors and a basement, allowing for multiple events to be hosted simultaneously. The space houses a culinary kitchen for visiting chefs, a demonstration kitchen with seating for 36 people, a basement bar for mixology classes and tastings, and other spaces that can be adapted for dancing, workshops, and more.

The company describes the launch as "an ambitious test" designed to offer local partners additional space and state-of-the-art-facilities.

Enterpreneurs who have no physical platform or a very small venue will be able to use the F Street spot to build their brands before ever putting money down for their own addresses. And already-existing D.C. shops won't have to worry about interrupting their normal business operations to host an event.

LivingSocial's already a local company -- it was started by four employees from Steve Case's Revolution Health Group, which is headquartered in the District. "We believe this is the next step in the evolution of local commerce and complements our existing offerings,” LivingSocial exec Doug Miller said in a press release.